Hey DoSomething Members,

Summertime is dwindling quickly, and that might mean that we don’t have as much free time to curl up with a good book. Sad, we know. 😢However, we need your reading enthusiasm now more than ever, especially since more states are banning some of our favorite books left and right.

School libraries like this one in Iowa are missing novels like The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. As a consequence, the voices of all those authors are being stripped away, and young people are missing out on the diversification of literature that highlights unique struggles, LGBTQIA+ stories, Black writers, and more.

Let us be clear: filtering and removing stories that should be accessible to young people leaves the door open  for more censorship. The recent uptick in statewide school book bans has left many librarians looking for solutions. Some report an increase in banned book checkouts, which shows that when students can’t get their hands on these important pieces of literature at school, they’re turning to their local libraries to find them.

Now we’re asking you to head to your nearest library to pick up a banned book from our Uncensored book list. In preparation for Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on September 15th, we’ve even refreshed it with a brand spankin’ new list celebrating banned books by Latinx authors. Read it, pass it to a friend, and share your thoughts with us!

Let’s Do This!

DoSomething

DoSomething members like you took to our banned book lists for their summer reading inspo as a way to broaden their perspectives and join the fight for free expression. Here’s a look at their selected reads and thoughtful takeaways.

"I decided to read one of the books listed from this website, Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin" says DoSomething Member Rachel S., 22. "The stories depicted in this book are extremely important in understanding how children and young adults feel before, during and after their transitions. I remember feeling uncomfortable in 'girly' clothing as a younger child. These personal accounts show how difficult it can navigating these feelings in a world telling you that it is wrong. This is such an important aspect of their life to understand. It upsets me to know that this book has been band because it offers so much insight to not only those in their same positions but to others who may not realize what it is like or the significance this has on someone's life. This book is very impactful, especially living in Florida. It is important for all children to have access to books like this for representation and education. I'll be recommending this book to people and encouraging them to read it, becoming more open minded about others."

" Cemetery Boys (2020) by Aiden Thomas was a great read," says DoSomething Member Biplata T., 19. "I honestly loved how well the story played out and how satisfying the ending was. The characters that were introduced have values for today's world, as we are still fighting for more peace in the LGBTQ+ community, accepting one another, or getting more equality. I think this book adds more shine to the community of people of color who are in the LGBTQ+ community as the book goes on to be more diverse. I always appreciate these kinds of reads because they have a realistic or fictional feel to them, help me understand the different perspectives some people have, and help me understand more about the actions people take. I think the best way to advocate for this book in our schools is to show them to book clubs mostly and build up from there. Having a community to have your back is the first step in recommending these books."

International Day of Charity…$5 for your gratitude… As part of their commitment to supporting youth mental health, The Royal Bank of Canada is donating $5 to DoSomething for every #mypledge video you share expressing gratitude for someone that has helped change your life. This gives one of our favorite expressions – “it pays to do good” – new meaning. Share your video here.

In Astrology news…Virgo season is here! If you share the zodiac with Beyonce or our DoSomething CEO DeNora Getachew, put your hands up and check out how Virgos (and the other signs) are changing the world!

CollegeXpress

Our friends at CollegeXpress wants to give YOU the opportunity to earn a $2,000 scholarship, and all you have to do is answer one question! Complete a free profile on CollegeXpress and share your response to the following: What is your favorite subject in school?

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